A synoptic representation of struggles for power in Latin American democracies: connecting three case studies

Abstract

In response to the need to reassess democratic principles, institutions, and practices—stemming from the crisis currently affecting political systems at a global level—this article, grounded in the methodological framework of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s practical approach, presents the final results of a study on struggles for political power in Latin American democracies. In this regard, the findings derive from a comparative analysis of the language games employed in and about the presidential debates in Brazil and Mexico in 2018, as well as in Argentina in 2019, with particular emphasis on those related to rendering the exercise of power transparent. This analysis provides a synoptic view that connects the family resemblances among the three case studies. It shows that, although the language games are not identical, the act of rendering transparent materializes through the dialogical activity of different actors, which supplies resources for contesting access to elected office. Moreover, this configuration triggers the intersection of other adversarial struggles, such as those concerning the defense of factual truth.